Unravelling Fiji’s murder mystery

The conflict between homosexuality and Christianity has long been widespread. With the World Youth Day bullet now aimed at the next targeted country, it’s important to remember the victims who have lost their lives to the religious fundamentalist bomb that seems to be exploding in all parts of the world.

Just over seven years ago Red Cross members John Scott and his partner Greg Scrivener were the victims of a shocking homophobia-based slaughter in Fiji.

To help expose this notorious crime Dr Annie Goldson has produced a documentary on the killing, titled An Island Calling.

People were very shocked as John was well-known and loved following the coup of 2000, Goldson told Sydney Star Observer.

The churches were quiet though, which makes you wonder if there was tacit acceptance of Apete’s [the accused’s] actions, and the police commissioner seemed to agree too.

There was also a lot of gossip and it was always hard to know what was truth and what was exaggeration and fiction.

Goldson said she wanted to reveal the rise of fundamentalism and the lessening of tolerance in Fiji, which was previously known as a tolerant society.

The contradictions in a culture that is sexually very active and has a visible fafafine group, who have been accepted, but one too that rhetorically is anti-homosexual, are intruiging, Goldson said.

[I hope to achieve] some kind of understanding and progressive move forward, people to reflect on their beliefs, and their behaviour.

The documentary was featured as part of this year’s Sydney Film Festival and will screen on SBS later in the year.